Most common 2004 Toyota Matrix problems
Share of the 138 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Matrix complaints by model year
Best Matrix years: 2012, 2011, 2008. Years to avoid: 2003, 2009, 2005, 2006. Compare all years →
2004 Toyota Matrix recalls (1)
Visibility › Glass, side/rear
Toyota is recalling 662,178 my 2003-2004 corolla, corolla matrix and Pontiac vibe vehicles equipped with power windows. The driver and front passenger door glass bolts May loosen and come off, causing the door glass to separate from the window regulator.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger door glass bolts with newly designed bolts free of charge. The recall began on April 16, 2008 to Toyota owners. The recall began on May 21, 2008, for Pontiac owners.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 Toyota Matrix:
Side front power window shatters
For the subject vehicles, there is a possibility that the retention force of the regulator bolts which attach the front side window glass to the power window regulator May not be sufficient due to an interference of the retention nut and the bolt shoulder radius.in this condition the bolt May become loose, causing a loud noise to be generated when the window is raised or lowered.if the vehicle and the power window…
What 2004 Toyota Matrix owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 37 →
Dt: 2004 Toyota Matrix xr, the vehicle has a problem with the steering, there was a noise coming from the steering yoke, consumer states the steering did not feel right, the consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired, the dealer told the consumer that the problem was because the splash guard was dragging, the dealer put two pins in the splash guard, because the pins were missing, the consumer took the vehicle to the dealership again to be repaired, the dealer told the consumer that the problem is with the steering yoke, previously the transmission had went out on the vehicle, the transmission seemed to have a loud noise coming from it. The consumer took it to the dealer. There was damage to the case and the dealership replaced the transmission because the vehicle was still under warranty. The vehicle is currently at the dealership waiting for a yoke replacement. …
My 2004 Toyota Matrix xr with manual transmission has suddenly displayed severe mechanical noise from the engine/transmission area. Smog technicians wouldn't take liability to run engine for smog tests to register for the coming year, so is now registered as planned non-operation until I can get the car fixed. Googling "Toyota Matrix transmission noise" or "Toyota Matrix engine noise" leads to several sites in which too many owners are either experiencing complete engine loss due to "oil sludge problem" or total transmission loss due to "admitted transmission bearing design flaw". I will not drive this car again on the roadway due to the possibility of sudden and complete loss of transmission function at any time. …
Air bags all 35 →
Takata recall - while driving on a highway, there was a slow up, and I braked, but stopped right at the rear bumper of the car in front of me. However, another car was coming behind me and couldn't stop, or didn't notice that traffice had stopped. He pushed me into the car in front of me. At that moment, which was not a severe front end hit, I saw fire, an explosion, and the airbag blew out the entire dash on the passenger side, and flew to the back seat behind the driver's side. Also, the driver's side airbag deployed. Metal was flying out of the passenger side airbag in the front. We could not believe the damage that resulted from such a somewhat minor accident. Additionally, the car was totaled which has been a strain on us! Now, about 30 days after the accident, we just received a card in the mail telling us of the recall. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Toyota Matrix. While driving 3 MPH, the vehicle accelerated rapidly without warning and caused a crash. The contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. It was unknown if the vehicle was towed because the contact could not remember. Motter auto repair of oakland, california was made aware of the crash and repaired the front passenger side of the vehicle and the passenger door. The manufacturer was not made aware of the crash. In addition, the failure recurred on two separate occasions. While driving 2 MPH, the vehicle accelerated rapidly without warning again. There was no crash and the contact was able to regain control of the vehicle. Also, while driving 2 MPH, the vehicle accelerated rapidly without warning and crashed into the contact's garage door. …
Speed control & acceleration
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Toyota Matrix. While driving 3 MPH, the vehicle accelerated rapidly without warning and caused a crash. The contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. It was unknown if the vehicle was towed because the contact could not remember. Motter auto repair of oakland, california was made aware of the crash and repaired the front passenger side of the vehicle and the passenger door. The manufacturer was not made aware of the crash. In addition, the failure recurred on two separate occasions. While driving 2 MPH, the vehicle accelerated rapidly without warning again. There was no crash and the contact was able to regain control of the vehicle. Also, while driving 2 MPH, the vehicle accelerated rapidly without warning and crashed into the contact's garage door. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Toyota Matrix. While the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, the contact heard an abnormal noise and the vehicle accelerated on its own. As a result, the contact crashed into two parked vehicles. A police report was filed. The driver sustained multiple bruises, a fractured rib, and pacemaker replacement that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,800.
2004 Toyota Matrix engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 33 / 28 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 30 / 27 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 22 / 29 / 25 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 29 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Toyota Matrix a good car?
Based on 138 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Matrix rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Matrix at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Toyota Matrix?
The transmission & drivetrain — 37 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about manual transmission. Next are the air bags (35) and speed control & acceleration (15).
How many recalls does the 2004 Toyota Matrix have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 Toyota Matrix, the most recent from April 10, 2008 (glass, side/rear). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Matrix?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2011 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003, 2009, 2005 and 2006. See the full Toyota Matrix years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota Matrix problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 36% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.